The effectiveness of utilizing an electronic assistive device to improve attendance in individuals with schizophrenia.
Item
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Title
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The effectiveness of utilizing an electronic assistive device to improve attendance in individuals with schizophrenia.
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Identifier
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AAI3231950
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identifier
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3231950
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Creator
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Davis-Conway, Sara.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Lanny Fields
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Date
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2006
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Psychology, Clinical
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Abstract
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To date, there is little evidence that traditional cognitive remediation training is effective in improving cognitive and functional deficits in individuals with schizophrenia (SZ). In contrast, accommodation strategies (Velligan, 1996, 2000, 2002) have proven successful at improving the functioning of these individuals. The current study evaluated the ability of an electronic assistive device (EAD), to improve Day Treatment program attendance of SZ individuals. Similar treatments have proven effective in individuals with cognitive deficits due to head injuries (Wilson, 1997, 2001). A within subject baseline-treatment-post-treatment design was utilized in six SZ participants.;Shifts in level of responding correlated with presence/absence of the pager were apparent in 3 of 6 participants. Time series analyses utilizing MANWAL 7 (Williams and Gottman, 1982) were conducted on each participants' attendance, to detect changes in level across conditions. There was no evidence of autocorrelation in attendance data. One responder demonstrated a significant level change (p<0.01). Two other responders showed non-significant improvements in level (p<.02, and p<0.04). In contrast, the three non-responders did not demonstrate significant level change (p = 0.32; p = 0.77; CR, and p = 0.41). Post hoc secondary measures that characterized the effect of the EAD on the psychological and cognitive status of participants were examined. Responders scored 1-2 SD below the mean on NP tests measuring verbal, non-verbal and working memory and verbal fluency. Two non-responders performed well above the mean on these measures and another scored 2 SD below the mean on these tasks and measures of attention. Measures of psychopathology did not discriminate responders and non-responders, with the exception of one non-responder who demonstrated increased hostility post-treatment.;These findings support the hypothesis that an EAD is an effective tool for accommodating for NP deficits, in a subset of individuals with schizophrenia. These are mid-spectrum patients who demonstrate significant neuropsychological impairments in memory, working memory and verbal fluency yet whose attention is grossly intact. The results also indicate that individuals with increased hostility levels may be unable to benefit from pager treatment. Cut-off scores on NP assessments and hostility levels should be developed to determine which patients would benefit most from EADs.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
